In this Newsletter...
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All programs are free of charge. We are now offering events online, outdoors, indoors, and hybrid. Please note the location of each event beneath the date.
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Current Services
The library has several COVID protocols in place. Here are the basics:
- Anyone over the age of 6 will be required to wear a face mask to enter the library, and at all times while in the building. That shall not include any person with a medical condition or disability that prevents wearing a mask or other face covering. Please note that we continue to serve a population which, for the time being, cannot be vaccinated. Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe, especially our youngest visitors!
- No limit to visitors and length of overall visit in most of the building.
- Capacity and visit lengths are still limited in the Youth Services area of the building. You may call Youth Services at 603-766-1740 to make an appointment, to ensure that your preferred time is reserved.
- Magazines and newspapers, Reference, and Special Collections are open for browsing.
- Study Rooms are open for groups of 1 to 4. Call 603-766-1720 to make an appointment.
- Larger Meeting Rooms are open for booking.
- Most of our discount passes to museums and other attractions are once again available for reservation.
- Some of our programs are held indoors, some outdoors, some online, and some are a hybrid, with multiple options to attend! As you read on, please take note of each program's location.
- Visit one of seven new Little Free Libraries, scattered around Portsmouth!
For a fuller description of current services, visit our website.
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Hours
Monday – Thursday: 9 AM – 9 PM
Friday: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 1 PM – 5 PM
Please note the following holiday hours this month:
Friday December 31 - Saturday January 1: CLOSED
Monday January 17: CLOSED
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Find Your Next Great Read!
No library card necessary!
Got a bookstore gift card for the holidays? Hoping to read more in the new year? We've got you covered - with our NextReads email newsletters. Get book recommendations delivered to your inbox each month for your favorite genres.
Subscribe to one or many newsletters, crafted by award-winning book experts, and personally reviewed and edited by Portsmouth Public Library staff.
Each book in your newsletter will be linked to our catalog, so it’s easy to see availability and put items on hold!
We will offer the following newsletters:
- Audiobooks
- Biography and Memoir
- Fantasy and Science Fiction
- Fiction A to Z
- Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
- Historical Fiction
- History and Current Events
- Home, Garden, and DIY
- Horror
- Library Reads
- Middle School Reads
- Mystery
- Nature and Science
- New York Times Fiction Bestsellers
- New York Times Nonfiction Bestsellers
- Parenting
- Picture Books
- Romance
- Spirituality and Religion
- Teen
- Thrillers and Suspense
- Youth Fiction
- Youth Graphic Novels!
Visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/nextreads to sign up!
Want even more? We also offer personalized book lists and book bundles for all ages - visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/pplrex to fill out a form and our library staff will get to work on a list of books (or films) you'll love.
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Winter Reading Challenge for Youth & Teens
No library card necessary!
January 1 - 31
From January 1st to January 31st, Portsmouth Public Library offers a Winter Reading Challenge through Beanstack, sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group.
Read for a Better World encourages readers of all ages to explore diversity, empathy, and action through literature. Our community has unlimited access to Lerner’s “Read for a Better World” published book titles for the month of January through the challenge!
We challenge our readers under 18 to read at least 200 books collectively during the month, and keep track of their reading on our Beanstack site.
Thousands of libraries and schools across the nation are participating - the top peformers will earn prizes from Lerner Publishing Group, including book collections, signed books, and virtual author visits!
Have questions or need help connecting to Beanstack? Ask at the Youth Services desk!
Happy reading, Portsmouth!
Register now!
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Exhibit: Ten Piscataqua Painters
No library card necessary!
January 2 – February 2, 2022
Book Signing & Meet the Painters: Thursday January 27 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Levenson Community Room
Ten Piscataqua brings ten outstanding visual artists to the attention of the region’s arts community, one coffee table book at a time. Our region is blessed with an exceptional diversity of talent, and Ten Piscataqua has developed a series of books for folks to discover, explore and support outstanding talent in their own community. Ten Piscataqua Painters will be released at the end of January 2022! Come and see the artists’ work, on exhibit in Portsmouth Public Library’s Levenson Room from January 2 to February 2.
A reception will be held on Thursday, January 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Meet the painters, and purchase a copy of the book to have signed! No registration required.
Books may be purchased online with free shipping.
Please check the calendar before you visit. Exhibit will be available for viewing when there is not an event or meeting in progress.
No registration necessary. Find out more!
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Middle School Mondays
No library card necessary!
Crafts & Games for Middle School Students
Mondays January 3, 10, 24 & 31
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Levenson Community Room
Middle school students are invited to join Youth Services staff after school each Monday for games and crafts! Each week will feature a new activity! Have an idea for an activity? Visit the Youth Desk and let us know! Registration is recommended as space is limited, but a few spots will be held for walk-ups. Masks are required.
Registration is recommended. Register now!
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Introduction to Tabletop Role-Playing Games for Adults: Now Online!
No library card necessary!
Thursday January 6
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Online
Have you thought about playing Dungeons and Dragons but aren’t quite sure how to begin? Looking to start a new collaborative, creative hobby and visit exciting new realms? There are a lot of barriers to getting into tabletop role-playing games (or TTRPGs), especially Dungeons and Dragons, including cost, time, accessibility issues, and lately … well, COVID. But never fear! Learn how to not spend a fortune, how to keep track of all the rules and abilities of your character, and how to have a ton of fun doing it!
Join us January 6th, 2022 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM online for an introduction to Dungeons and Dragons including how to get started and access game materials for free (legally), how to actually play, and how to run a basic game – somebody’s gotta do it!
In this series, library staff will help you get started on your most magical adventure. Each month from January to March a class will teach you everything you need to get started as a tabletop role-playing gamer from getting started in Dungeons and Dragons to exploring lesser-known but equally amazing tabletop games.
This program is free and open to goblins … uh, adults. You might even make some new friends!
Registration is required. Register now!
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Babysitting Course (Grades 6+)
No library card necessary!
Thursdays January 6, 13, 20, 27 & February 3
3:30 – 5:30 PM
Levenson Community Room
It's that time of the year again! Our ever-popular Babysitting Course is here!
This free, five-session course is open to students in 6th grade & above. Students must attend all sessions to graduate & receive their certificate. If there is an issue, students must talk to Youth Services ahead of time to make any alternate arrangements possible. The course will cover basics of babysitting and professionalism, emergencies, child development and more. Contact Youth Services with any questions!
Registration is required. Register now!
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An American Quilt: Unfolding a Story of Family and Slavery
No library card necessary!
with author Rachel May
Tuesday January 11
7 – 8:30 PM
Online
In this collaboration with several other area libraries, Dr. Rachel May gives a presentation on her book, An American Quilt: Unfolding a Story of Family and Slavery. Following the trail left by an unfinished quilt, this illuminating saga examines slavery from the cotton fields of the South to the textile mills of New England– and the humanity behind it.
May’s book explores the far reach of slavery, from New England to the Caribbean, the role it played in the growth of mercantile America, and the bonds between the agrarian south and the industrial north in the antebellum era–all through the discovery of a remarkable quilt. While studying objects in a textile collection, she opened a veritable treasure-trove: a carefully folded, unfinished quilt made of 1830’s-era fabrics, its backing containing fragile, aged papers that mentioned “shuger,” “rum,” and “West Indies.” The quilt top sent May on a journey to piece together the story of the women behind it– both enslaved and free.
Registration is required. Find out more and register now!
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Teen D&D
No library card necessary!
Tuesdays January 11 & 25
5 – 7 PM
Levenson Community Room
ADVENTURE AWAITS!!
Do you play Dungeons and Dragons or wish you did? Are you interested in a biweekly sword-swinging, magic missile-firing role play journey into the hearts of mystical worlds? Have you ever wanted to be just a little evil and steal a sheep from an unsuspecting elven shepherd?!
Then join us for Teen D&D! Every two weeks we get together and roll the dice!
New to the game? No problem! We have periodic introductory sessions where you learn the basics of the game and how to build a character. Or you can just jump in if you feel ready! Email Andrew at awhouldsworth@cityofportsmouth.com to get the date of the next Intro Session, or to get character help, adventure summaries, and advice on how to jump into the game if you don't want to wait. Now....roll for ADVENTURE!!
Registration is required. Register now!
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Standing Up to Racism Workshop
No library card necessary!
Wednesday January 12 - February 2
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Online
What does it mean to be an ally? How can we help dismantle systemic, anti-black racism?
In this popular 4-week, online workshop with Anne Romney, we will look at racism in all its forms – internalized, interpersonal, institutional and systemic. Topics will include white privilege, understanding the toll of microaggressions, and what it means to be an ally/accomplice in the fight for social justice – with emphasis on concrete actions people can do, small and large.
We will also feature a guest speaker, Tanisha Johnson, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Seacoast Chapter.
Registration is now full. Sign up for the waitlist and be notified about upcoming sessions!
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Film: Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar
No library card necessary!
Thursday January 13
6:30 PM
Levenson Community Room
2021. Rated PG-13. 106 min.
Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time... ever.
Films at the library are open to the public and FREE. All films will feature subtitles where possible.
No registration necessary - but space is limited, so come early to secure your seat.
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Guitar Sunday Concert: The Hampton Trio
No library card necessary!
Sunday January 16
3 – 4 PM
Levenson Community Room
This popular series from Portsmouth Public Library and PMAC (Portsmouth Music and Arts Center) is back! Guitar Sundays will continue this year indoors, produced and curated by Mitch Shuldman.
Drawing from a rich selection of guitar talent from both New Hampshire and the greater Boston area, the series of recitals will highlight the versatility and range of the guitar from classical to jazz to acoustic.
The program for this afternoon will include music from the French baroque arranged for the Trio’s instrumentation, and a selection of contemporary American and international works including a new three-movement suite by Philadelphia composer Mark Linkins, dedicated to the Hampton Trio.
The Hampton Trio (Beverly Davis, Mark Davis, Robert Margo) performs original music and arrangements from baroque to contemporary for an ensemble of classical guitar, mandolin, and mandola in G.
Registration is required. Find out more and register now!
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Tarot 101 Workshop
No library card necessary!
with Kate Sheridan
Tuesday January 18
7 – 9 PM
Online OR Hilton Garden Inn Room
Let's talk tarot!
This event is for anyone who wants to learn more about tarot cards, using the classic Smith-Rider-Waite deck as a guide.
This workshop will cover basic tarot theory, giving you a bird's eye view of all 78 cards and how they work together. The goal is to demystify the tarot in order to empower you to use the cards for self-reflection and personal growth. Throughout the workshop, you'll be invited to consider card images using both the information from the workshop and your own intuition. At the end of the evening, you'll be shown how to conduct a reading for yourself or others, and you'll leave with practical next steps to do at home.
You may want to bring a notebook and pen, plus your favorite tarot deck (if you have one). While some of the workshop material will certainly apply to oracle cards, please note that this workshop is focused on the traditional 78-card tarot.
This workshop will be held in the Hilton Garden Inn Room at Portsmouth Public Library, and there will also be an option to attend online. All registrants will receive a Zoom link, but please indicate whether you plan to attend in person or online.
Registration is required. Find out more and register now!
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Teen Advisory Board Meeting
No library card necessary!
Tuesday January 18
7 – 8 PM
Teen Advisory Board (TAB) is a group of teens who meet monthly to plan teen library programs and more. This month we will be meeting in the Youth Activity Room (the art room in the back of Youth Services).
Previously, we decided on our TAB designed winter program, and this month we will finalize our plan for that event! This includes making supply lists, thinking about staffing, and brainstorming our social media approach.
For our crafty activity, we are going to have a friendly little contest to design the 2022 TAB logo! We are so excited to see all of your ideas!
We always welcome new members. If you are a member already, bring a friend! TAB is open to teens ages 13 and up.
Registration is required. Email Andrew at awhouldsworth@cityofportsmouth.com to join!
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Embroidery 101 Workshop
No library card necessary!
Wednesday January 19
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Online OR Levenson Community Room
Embroidery is one of the simplest hobbies to pick up – you can do it too! The library is here to help.
In this two-hour workshop taught by library staff, you’ll learn several basic stitches, handy tips and tricks, and how to stitch a simple design. You’ll have all the tools you need to create more beautiful embroidery. We’ll provide all the materials you need in a kit. Choose to attend online (and pick your kit up in advance), or in person in the Levenson Community Room.
This workshop is free and open to adults and kids ages 10+.
Registration is required – space is limited. Register now!
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Genealogy Workshop: Getting Started In Genealogy
No library card necessary!
with Ann Lawthers
Thursday January 20
6 – 8 PM
Online
So, you want to find out about your family history? Maybe you want to learn the identity of your ancestors, find out where they lived and what they did for a living? Or maybe your family lore includes stories of a Mayflower immigrant? Perhaps you’ve heard that your ancestor fought in the Revolutionary War or the Civil War? Or you may have medical concerns and wish to find out about your family’s medical legacy. Curiosity, lineage, and medical history are all common reasons to take up the growing hobby of genealogy. Join Ann Lawthers, Genealogist at American Ancestors and NEHGS, to learn how to get started in your family history research. Ann will delve into essential resources, records, tips, and techniques in the field of genealogy to help you become successful in your search for your ancestors.
Registration is required. Find out more and register now!
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Local History Talk: Women of Granite
No library card necessary!
The Hidden Lives of New Hampshire Women as Seen in the Cemetery
Tuesday January 25
7 – 8:30 PM
Online
Join historian and author Glenn A. Knoblock as he shares the stories of women throughout New Hampshire history, from the perspective of the historic burial grounds and cemeteries located across the state. The silent gravestones and monuments within their confines, which mark the final resting places of women young and old, speak volumes. By examining them, we can learn much about their place in society, and how their status evolved from early colonial times down through the end of the Victorian era, and into the twentieth century. The details carved in stone can reveal to us the kind of day-to-day lives they led, as well as their accomplishments and the hardships and tragedies they endured.
In his unusual and interesting book, Women of Granite, Knoblock tells of women from the early colonial days, pioneer women who were among the first settlers in many New Hampshire towns, hard-working everyday women, both white and African American, women who performed heroically in times of war – women who broke barriers in a big way, and women who made their mark beyond New Hampshire on the national stage.
Registration is required. Find out more and register now!
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Shakespeare Discussion Group
No library card necessary!
Measure for Measure
Tuesday January 25
4 – 5 PM
Hilton Garden Inn Room OR Online
How now, players? Tis a new year, and a new season of Shakespearean discussion group! Come! Join us on the last Tuesday of the month when the bell tolls four to discuss the witty and wily comedy that is Measure for Measure. Fear you not of your knowledge of Shakespeare’s works, for we encourage fellows of all ages, areas of interest and expertise to attend!
On Tuesday, January 25 at 4 PM we will discuss Measure for Measure over Zoom as well as in person at the library.
Print copies of this play will be available for checkout with a library card, along with several productions on DVD. Library cardholders also have streaming access to the BBC production on Kanopy – visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/kanopy to connect. Or, watch any of these freely available productions:
Registration is required. Register now!
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Talk: Fat Liberation!
No library card necessary!
with Emma Simpson-Tucker
Wednesday January 26
7 – 8:30 PM
Online
What is anti-fatness and how does it show up in different spheres of life? How can we combat it, and be a good ally to fat folks? Where is diet culture hiding, and how do we recognize it? Learn about the history of fat acceptance and how to support the fat liberation movement in this conversation with Emma Simpson-Tucker. We will focus on fat liberation as opposed to body positivity, and fat accessibility as opposed to individual body image.
Feel free to bring questions and experiences to this program, as there will be space for some discussion!
Emma Simpson-Tucker (she/her) is a fat activist who self identifies as fat. Coursework in women’s and gender studies in 2014 kickstarted her involvement in the fat positivity movement, and she hasn’t looked back. Emma works in reproductive health and brings her experiences and understanding of fatness to this work. She is an anti-diet fat liberationist and is so excited to bring this conversation to the Portsmouth Public Library!
Registration is required. Register now!
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Middle School Art Night
No library card necessary!
Wednesday January 26
5 – 6 PM
Youth Activity Room
Calling all middle school artists! Join us for the 2022 start to our popular Art Night series! This month we will be exploring mixed media as we compete in a Bad Art Contest! Sculpture, drawing, painting, googly eyes, patchwork sewing, anything goes with bad art!! Who will create the Baddest Art Piece of them all...and does that make them a winner??
Registration is required. Register now!
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Middle School Minute to Win It
No library card necessary!
Friday January 28
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Levenson Community Room
Calling all middle schoolers!!!
How many challenges can you complete in just one minute? Join us in the Levenson Room for an afternoon of fun and games. Challenges will include cup stacking, a Pom Pom toss, puzzle solving, and MORE! Plus, prizes! See you there.
Registration is required. Register now!
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3D Design Workshop with Tinkercad
No library card necessary!
Wednesday February 2
6:30 – 8 PM
Hilton Garden Inn Room
Join library staff for an introduction to basic 3D design using a free web-based software called Tinkercad. We’ll meet the library’s 3D printers, learn the basic tools offered in Tinkercad, and start thinking in three dimensions! We’ll walk through creating a specific object and submitting it to be printed by the library – each student gets one free print to pick up later.
Computers provided. All experience levels welcome, but some comfort navigating a web browser and using a mouse are encouraged!
Registration is required. Register now!
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Getting to Know You: An Intro to Zine-Making
No library card necessary!
Monday February 7
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Online
Join artist Katie McMahon for a workshop to create your own zine, all about you! This workshop is free and open to all adults and teens ages 13+.
You will need:
- At least one piece of 8.5"x11" printer paper
- Scissors
- A drawing implement (pen, pencil, marker, etc.)
Katie McMahon (she/they) is an illustrator and comic creator residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Her comic work explores themes of mental health and personal identity through fiction and nonfiction. Her first graphic novel, "Making Faces at Myself", a 100 Day Project collection of illustrations and comics, was self-published in 2019. Currently, Katie is working on a historical fiction graphic novel with author Tori Tucker. Find more of Katie's work at KatieMcMahonArt.com or follow them on Instagram: @KatieMcMahonArt.
Registration is required. Register now!
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Great Decisions Foreign Policy Discussion Course
No library card necessary!
9 Week Course | Wednesdays February 9 – April 6
10:00 - 11:15 AM or 7 – 8:15 PM
What is our country’s role in the world? How does our foreign policy impact climate change, space exploration, and industrial policy? How are the political and social trends in our nation reflected around the globe? For the seventh year in a row, the library offers a unique opportunity to consider and discuss a number of foreign policy topics.
Great Decisions is back by popular demand! We’ll have two independent groups, both of which will convene online using Zoom: you can choose from a 10 – 11:15 AM session or a 7 – 8:15 PM session, on nine consecutive Wednesdays from February 9 – April 6.
This FREE nine-week “Great Decisions” course, created by the Foreign Policy Association to educate the public about current events, will include the following topics for 2022:
- Changing Demographics
- Outer Space
- Climate Change
- Russia
- Myanmar and ASEAN
- The Quad Alliance
- Industrial Policy
- Drug Policy in Latin America
- Biden’s Agenda
Registration is required. Find out more and register now!
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Story Times
No library card necessary!
Prepare to bundle up this winter and join us as outdoor story times continue throughout the month in the library garden!
Online Pajama Story Time
Mondays January 10, 24 & 31
6 PM
Put on your comfiest pajamas and join us on Zoom for stories, songs, and rhymes. This story time is for children of all ages. Registration is required. Participants will receive the Zoom link via email upon registration.
NEW DAY! Outdoor Preschool Story Time
TUESDAYS January 11, 18 & 25
10:30 AM
Bundle up and join us for books, songs, and rhymes at an outdoor story time on a NEW DAY recommended for 3-6 year olds! Masks are required for anyone over the age of 6 when not seated. Social distancing protocols will be in place. Please register ONCE for your family group, and let us know how many are in your group. Please note that registration for story time is on a weekly basis and you will need to register for each week you plan to attend. Story time is contingent on weather. We will do our best to notify families by email by 5 PM the night before should story time need to be cancelled.
Outdoor Lap Time
Wednesdays January 12, 19 & 26
9:30 AM
Bundle up and join us for outdoor Lap Time! Lap Time is recommended for babies ages 0 to 18 months and features stories, rhymes, songs and more! Masks are required for anyone over the age of 6 when not seated. Social distancing protocols will be in place. Please register ONCE for your family group, and let us know how many are in your group. Please note that registration for story time is on a weekly basis and you will need to register for each week you plan to attend. Story time is contingent on weather. We will do our best to notify families by email by 5 PM the night before should story time need to be cancelled.
Outdoor Toddler Story Time
Wednesdays January 12, 19 & 26
10:30 AM
Bundle up and join us for books, songs, and rhymes at an outdoor story time recommended for two and three-year-olds! Masks are required for anyone over the age of 6 when not seated. Social distancing protocols will be in place. Please register ONCE for your family group, and let us know how many are in your group. Please note that registration for story time is on a weekly basis and you will need to register for each week you plan to attend. Story time is contingent on
weather. We will do our best to notify families by email by 5 p.m. the night before should story time need to be cancelled.
Registration is required. Use the links above to register, or view all upcoming Story Times!
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Adult Book Clubs
No library card necessary!
Hilton Garden Inn Room OR Online
For adults we offer three different book clubs across genres - join us for one or many! We now offer these hybrid: attend in the library in the Hilton Garden Inn Room, or online on Zoom!
Classics Book Club
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Tuesday January 4 | 7 PM
Fiction Book Club
The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama
Monday January 10 | 1 PM or 7 PM
Speculative Fiction Book Club
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Tuesday January 25 | 7 PM
Classics Book Club
Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid
Tuesday February 1 | 7 PM
Fiction Book Club
Nonfiction for Fiction! The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett
Monday February 14 | 1 PM or 7 PM
Speculative Fiction Book Club
Dune by Frank Herbert
Tuesday February 22 | 7 PM
No registration required.
Visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/book-discussion-groups for more Zoom links, information, synopses, and future titles!
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Youth & Tween Book Clubs
Portsmouth Public Library card needed for Blast Off and Early Chapter Book Clubs. For all other book clubs, no library card necessary!
Middle School Book Club
Tuesday January 4
4 - 5 PM
Levenson Community Room
Students in grades 6-8 are invited to join us for a monthly book discussion and hang out. This month we’re reading This Was Our Pact by Ryan Andrews. This graphic novel follows Ben on the night of the annual Autumn Equinox Festival, when the town floats paper lanterns down the river. Legend says once out of sight, they'll soar off to the Milky Way and turn into stars, but is that true? This year, Ben and his classmates are determined to find out, so they make a pact: No one turns for home. No one looks back. As one by one boys break the pact, the last two will travel farther than anyone has ever gone, down a winding road full of magic, wonder, and unexpected friendship. Registration is required for this event and books are available to pick up at the library ahead of time. Please email Lucia with any questions: lmvonletkemann@cityofportsmouth.com
Book Club Grades 3 & 4
Monday January 10
4 – 5 PM
Online
Students in grades 3 and 4 are invited to meet with other readers to talk books and challenge each other to trivia! This month's book will be Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham, a graphic novel about friendship! Students can pick up the book at the library ahead of time and then join us for a fun conversation about it! Registration is required. Please click the link above to sign up and receive the Zoom log in information.
Blast Off Book Club
Pickup: Tuesday January 11, 9 AM – 9 PM
Online Meeting: Tuesday January 18, 4 PM
Blast Off Book Club is our book club for emerging readers in grades K – 2. Currently we are offering Blast Off Book Club to go, with the option for a Zoom meet-up. Register to reserve a Blast Off Book Club kit, containing this month’s book and a list of related activities. Students are welcome, but not required, to attend a Zoom session the following week to discuss the book and the activities. Due to demand, Blast Off Book Club kits are currently available for Portsmouth Public Library cardholders only. This month's title is Little People, Big Dreams : Amelia Earhart by Ma Isabel Sánchez Vegara. Discussion will held on Tuesday, January 18 at 4 PM. Please email Mollie at memulligan@cityofportsmouth.com with any questions.
Early Chapter Book Club
Pickup: Wednesday January 12, 9 AM – 9 PM
Online Meeting: Wednesday January 26, 4 PM
The Early Chapter Book Club is designed for independently reading 1st and 2nd grade students. Currently we are offering Early Chapter Book Club to go, with the option for a Zoom meet-up. Register to reserve an Early Chapter Book Club kit, containing this month’s book and a list of related activities. Students are welcome, but not required, to attend a Zoom session to discuss the book and the activities. Due to demand, Early Chapter Book Club kits are currently available for Portsmouth Public Library cardholders only. This month's title is March of the Mini Beasts by Ada Hopper. Discussion will held on Tuesday, January 26 at 4 PM on Zoom. Please email Mollie at memulligan@cityofportsmouth.com with any questions.
NEW TIME! Book Club Grades 4 & 5
Tuesday January 25
4 - 5 PM
Online
Students in grades 4 and 5 are invited to join this book club on Zoom at a NEW TIME. This month's book will be Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera. This hilarious books follows Lupe as she works to ace all of her classes in order to meet her favorite MLB pitcher. The only thing standing in her way is a square dancing segment in PE. Laugh and empathize with Lupe as she tries to stand up for what she thinks is right, navigates family and friendships and ultimately achieves her goals. Students can pick up the book at the library ahead of time and then join us for a fun conversation about it! This month we will be meeting on Zoom. Please register using the link above to receive the Zoom log in information. Please contact Mollie by emailing memulligan@cityofportsmouth.com with any questions.
Registration required. Click the dates above to register.
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Weekly Meditation
No library card necessary!
Every Wednesday
12:15 – 1 PM
Levenson Community Room OR Online
We're now hosting Weekly Meditation online AND indoors!
Whether you've meditated before or you'd like to start learning, this weekly drop-in is for everyone. Our volunteer instructors teach a variety of different techniques, and we provide a friendly, low-pressure environment for beginners to learn!
To read more about our instructors and get the Zoom link to connect, visit cityofportsmouth.com/library/weekly-meditation.
No registration required.
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Reading Dogs
No library card necessary!
Saturdays
11 AM – 12 PM
Chloe & Tillie
Graham
Emerging readers! Read to one of our certified reading dogs, Tillie or Chloe and our newest reading dog, Graham! Chloe and Tillie will now alternate weeks visiting with Graham. This is a great chance to practice reading aloud with a non-judgmental furry friend! Register for a 15-minute appointment or just stop by the Sun Room and say hello!
Registration is recommended. Register for a 15 minute appointment by calling the Youth Services desk at 766-1740.
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Learn Mah Jongg
No library card necessary!
Every Saturday
10 AM – 12 PM
Hilton Garden Inn Room
Mah Jongg every Saturday returns! Learn the ancient Chinese game of tiles. It's fast, free, and fun for all ages. Held every Saturday from 10 - Noon. Taught every week at 10:00, takes 15 minutes to learn.
No registration required. View Mah Jongg on the calendar!
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World Affairs Discussion Group
No library card necessary!
Every Monday
4 – 5 PM
Online
Are you fascinated by international affairs and the world of foreign policy? If so, please join Library Director Steve Butzel and a group of your peers on Mondays to discuss World Affairs topics.
If you plan on attending and would like to vote on the week's possible topics, send our Director an email at skbutzel@cityofportsmouth.com, and he will send you a link to the webpage where you can vote. The list of topics is posted each Wednesday afternoon and voting concludes that Friday afternoon. At that point, the Director will send out an email to the group letting them know the two selected topics, and a list of links to suggested articles.
No registration required.
Click this link to connect via Zoom. Password: 3GWdHC
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Language Discussion Groups
No library card necessary!
Hilton Garden Inn Room OR Online
Each of our language discussion groups is volunteer-facilitated. These are not classes, and are geared toward people who already speak or are learning the language. They will have no teacher and may have no native speakers. All language groups are now hybrid - attend in person in the Hilton Garden Inn Room, or online!
German
Every Monday | 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Spanish
Every Tuesday | 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Chinese
Every Thursday | 5 – 6 PM
Italian
Every Friday | 12:30 – 1:30 PM
French
Every Friday | 1:30 – 3 PM
NEW! Japanese (IN PERSON ONLY)
Every Saturday | 10 - 11 AM
No registration required.
Click this link to connect via Zoom. Password: 3GWdHC
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Computer Classes
No library card necessary!
Various Dates & Times
Hilton Garden Inn Room
Computer classes return in January! These are:
- one-time workshops which can be repeated.
- available to 6 students at a time.
- held on weekdays at varying times.
- free!
- hands-on.
- led by library staff.
Computers are provided. Note that some classes have prerequisites.
Microsoft Excel Basics
Tuesday January 11 | 2 – 3:30 PM
Computer Basics
Wednesday January 12 | 6:30 – 8 PM
Registration is required. To register, click on the dates above, visit the Reference Desk, or call 603-766-1720!
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... And So Much More!
Library card necessary for some services.
We tend to highlight upcoming events and new services in this newsletter, but the library is so much more. Here's a taste of our other offerings...
Services that require a Portsmouth Public Library card
Services that do not require a library card
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